Official launch of White Rose Consortium Brussels Office

Representatives from the University of Sheffield, including Deputy Vice-Chancellor Shearer West, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Social Sciences Gill Valentine and Director of Sheffield International Jo Purves will take part in the official White Rose Consortium Brussels Office launch on 7th and 8th April 2016.

The office is being established by the Consortium, a strategic partnership between the Universities of Sheffield, Leeds and York, in order to influence EU research policy. It will work with key stakeholders on areas which align with current EU research priorities identifying areas of strategic importance and strengthening name recognition of the three universities.

Following the official opening ceremony, there will be research theme based talks by leading academics from the three universities covering topics including sustainability, food security and health and wellbeing.

The Office is headed by Dr Phil Holliday, the White Rose University Consortium European Public Affairs Director, and supported by an office manager. Erasmus internship opportunities for students from the three universities will be offered and the Office will offer hot-desking facilities for staff of the three universities working in Brussels. Staff will also have access to a meeting room that can be used for consortia meetings or other events.

Craig Walker, Director of the White Rose University Consortium, said: “Our Brussels office puts the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York at the heart of Europe. It will give us an ideal base to influence EU research policy and to work with stakeholders to broaden our relationships with European partners.”